Search

Scanning the web today, we came across an interesting Press Release from a bicycle shop here in Dublin: GreenAer.

GreenAer, set up by a Belgian / Irish couple, has conducted research on the cycling preferences of Dubliners. As some of our readers may know, this particular topic has had our interest interest for a long time already. We even wrote a guest blog item on Copenhagenize.com, where we argued how cycling gear is overcomplicating the simplicity of cycling.

26 September 2011 – GreenAer, Dublin’s expert in ‘clean transport solutions’ (www.greenaer.ie), has recently conducted research on cycling and clothing. GreenAer interviewed 137 Dubliners, asking (amongst others) what their favourite cycling attire would be if there were no practical, logistical or social barriers.

GreenAer’s research showed 7 out of 10 respondents prefer to cycle with ‘as little clothes as possible’. Research also showed 8 out of 10 Dublin cyclists ‘gear up’ (e.g. sweater, jacket, high visibility vest) for their cycle trips, but would rather not do so due to ‘sweatiness’, ‘bulkiness’ or ‘clothing style’. A minority of respondents (3 out of 10) indicated they would be interested in cycling (partly) naked.

To meet demand from these Dubliners, GreenAer has founded an independent association that encourages cyclists to dress down: ‘The Bare Cycling Club’ (www.bare-cycling-club.com). The association is currently in the process of being formally incorporated, but 15 members have already joined in the ‘pre-signup’. The draft articles of association set out members ‘strive to wear as little as possible, without interfering with public safety or morality’. The association also caters for the needs of the minority preferring to cycle (almost) naked.

The Bare Cycling Club stresses it is not a nudist association and that its activities are within the legal framework. However, the Bare Cycling Club does believe its (minority of) almost naked cycling members can play a strong role in advocating a more pleasant way of cycling (i.e. without the confinements too much cycling gear) for all cyclists. The Bare Cycling Club understands naked cycling may seem radical, so to avoid confrontations it advises its partly naked members to cycle only between 10 pm and 6 am.

Ciaran Fallon, Cycling Officer for Dublin City Council, says: “Cycling is really taking off in Dublin – ever since the Dublin Bike scheme we have seen a huge uptake on various new forms of cycling and bicycles; consider, for example, the fixies and BMXs. We encourage all forms of cycling, as long as it does not breach any regulations and remains within the spirit of good use of roads”.

If you have read the news, you will not have missed that UBS – a swiss bank – made a trading loss. Here’s a short recap given by the Economist:

THE latest annual report of UBS, Switzerland’s biggest and most error-prone bank, states that “disciplined risk management and control are essential to our success.” That assertion has been proved right in the most embarrassing way, after allegedly unauthorised bets cost the bank a whopping $2.3 billion.

The papers are filled with the bank’s ‘Swiss Miss’, and write how it should not have been possible. Surely, shareholders will hold the bank’s Risk and Compliance Management Team accountable.

What went wrong? Why didn’t the Risk and Compliance Management Team stop the rogue trader?

In an e-mail circulating among bankers, an explanation is suggested. Since today is Friday – a day most people in an office spend circulating e-mails with footage of dancing cats or zoo-keeper bloopers – I am sharing that e-mail with you.

The e-mail’s subject: UBS’ risk managment & compliance team returns to work …
The e-mail’s picture:

Well – they may have done stuff wrong at work; but the UBS Risk and Compliance team has definitely got its cycling style right.

The one and only time I saw this weird street sign. In my interpretation it prohibits taking a second person on the bike’s back. (It’s definitely no tandem bike in the sign…there’s no second set of pedals.)

But just when I raised my camera the real bike passed by and I just managed to get ready to have this composition of sign and reality.

Maybe…maybe it’s just prohibited to have the second person facing the front and having her sitting sideways is OK…?

XiaMen 厦门, China

Looking closely at the sign, we – like Birger – are unsure whether the two Chinese are breaking the rules, or abiding by them.